Animated bird whistle



Feb. 28, 1961 J. H. BACON ANIMATED BIRD WHISTLE Filed Sept. 30, 1955 ll-Ur:

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5 56 5 '73 I 53 54 5/ INVENTOR.

r 2,972,834 ANllVIATED BIRD WHISTLE Filed Sept. 30,1955, Ser. No. 537,806 4 Claims. (Cl. 46-418) The present invention relates to an animated whistle. The present invention provides a whistle structure in which distinctive notes may be played and animation may be obtained simultaneously.

An object of the present invention is to provide an animated whistle in which the animation and whistle sound occur in a selected synchronism.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an animated whistle having the shape of a human figure formed thereon in which the animation consists of the movement of the figures limb.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a modification in which the animated figure is a bird and in which the birds beak and eye will move in synchronism with the sounding of anote; H L

These and other objects of the present invention will be more clearly understood when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 'l is a cross sectional elevation of the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional elevation of a modification; and

Figure 3 is a cross sectional elevation of a still further modification of the invention.

Referring first to Figure 1, there is illustrated'anelongated tube 1 made preferably of plastichaving an; open end 2 through which the operator may blow. A wall 3 formed integral with the tube 1 is positioned inform a constricted air passage 4. This air passage 4 is directed downwardly to an opening 5 by the wall element 6. The opening 5 may extend across the tube land isjaligned with another opening 7 on the opposite side of the tube and the air deflecting edge 8. Also positioned within this tube 1 is the piston 9 made of any suitable material such as y t e e bber. A shaft member 10 coaxially aligned with the tube 1 is secured at one end .to this piston 9 and projects through the end wall 11 of the tube 1 at the other end, terminating in the handle element 12. This shift 10 7 projects slightly through the piston 9 and is provided with a hook section 13 on which is secured an elongated plate 14. This elongated plate 14 has a series of slots or holes 15 aligned with one another and adapted to be aligned successively with the openings 5 and knife edge 8. Secured on the tube 1 is a figure 16, preferably in the shape of a soldier. This figure may be made of the same material as the tube 1 and may be secured to it by means of the base section 17. An arm 18 of this soldier is pivotally secured to the body by a shaft 19 projecting through the body. This shaft is bent at its inner end within the body at right angles forming a section 20. Secured to the other end of this section 20 of the shaft, is an elongated lever arm 21 extending nearly the length of the inside of the figure 16. At the lower end of this lever 21 is pivotally secured another lever arm 22. This lever arm 22 is pivotally secured at its other end to the base 17 by the pin 23. The lever arm 22 is provided with a downwardly extending segment 24 which projects through an opening in the tube 1. This projection 24 is adapted to successively come in contact with nubs 25 formed on the shaft d States PatentO 2,972,834 Patented Feb. 28, 1961 10. Thus, as the shaft 10 is moved longitudinally within the tube 1, the successive contacts of the projection 24 with the nubs 25 will raise and lower the lever arm 22. This motion will be consequently translated through the lever arm 21 and shaft 20 to the limb 18 which will thereby be raised or lowered. The nubs 25 may be aligned on the shaft 10 so as to cause the actuation of the lever arm 22 in a selected synchroni'sm with the sounding of the whistle.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 2, the structure of the elements 1 to 9 is similar 'to the structure illustrated in Figure 1. A shaft 30 projects through the center of the piston 9 which is mounted for longitudinal movement within the resonant chamber formed as a portion of the tube 1. This shaft 30 has an integrally formed loop 31 at its center section and projects at its far end through the end wall 11 of the tube 1 and terminates in a handle member 12. A portion of the shaft 30 projecting through the piston 9 is provided with a bent tip 32 to which is secured an elongated plate member 33 preferably made of metallic material. Within this plate member 33 are a pair of openings 34 positioned to successively align with the opening 5 and the knife edge 8. A pair of pins 36 are provided in the wall of the tube 1 to hold the plate 33 close to the opening 5. Molded or otherwise formed as an integral part of the tube 1 is a figure 37, preferably in the form of a soldier. In the form indicated, the soldier is in a marching position with the legs spread apart. Projecting upwardly through an opening in the lower portion of the figure is a lever arm 38 pivoted to the wall of the figure by the pin 39. The lower end of this lever arm 38 projects inwardly to pass into and there-' by be engaged by the loop 31. The upper end of this lever arm 38 is formed in a T shape. Also provided at the upper end of the figure is a second lever arm 40 having an irregular shape as is generally indicated.

This lever arm 40 is pivoted at 41 and engages the end 42 of the T shape end of the lever arm 38. A third lever arm 43 pivoted at 44, engages the opposite end of the T at one end and at its other end engages the free end of the lever arm 40 in the manner indicated. This lever arm 43 is pivotally secured to a shaft 44 which is formed as a portion of the arm 45 with the shaft 44 projecting through the wall of the figure 37. Thus, in the operation of this device as an individual blows through the mouth opening 2 and varies the length of the resonant chamber by moving the handle 12 longitudinally, the holes 34 will be successively aligned with the edge 8 and hole 5 so as to permit a whistle sound. Simultaneously with the movement of the shaft 30 in either direction the limb 45 will move. Starting from a center position as indicated, movement of the shaft in either direction will cause the limb to move upwards thus moving the bugle 46 to the mouth of the toy figure. If the shaft 30 is moved outwardly, the lever arm 43 is directly rotated by the T shaped end; while if the shaft 30 is moved inwardly, the T shaped end presses against the lever 40 which, in turn, presses against the upper end of the shaft 43. In either of these cases, the limb 45 will move upwardly towards the mouth of the figure. Movement back towards the center position will lower the bugle from the toy soldiers mouth. The holes 34 may be so positioned on the reed 33 as to come into alignment to permit a whistling sound to emanate only when the bugle is raised to the mouth of the figure.

In Figure 3 there is illustrated a modification in which the elements 1 through 9 are similar to those set forth in Figure 1. The shaft 50 projects through the piston 9 and terminates in a bent section 32 to which is secured the elongated metallic plate 51. This elongated plate 51 is held in position so that it may be moved longitudinally close to the opening 5 by pin 52 and projections 53 formed 3 on the inside of the tube 1. The elongated plate 51 is provided with a series of openings 54 adapted to be aligned with the opening 5 and projecting e g 8.. Integral with the shaft 50 there are a series of nubs or projections 55' of selected lengths. These nubs terminate short of the end of the shaft 50 which projects through.

the end 11 of the tube 1 terminating in the handle 12. A figure preferably in the shape of an owl 56 is formed at one end of the tube 50 and contains within its hollow body a shaft 57 which is held vertically and normal to the shaft 50 by means of a series of pins 58 formed on the inner surfaces of the bird figure. The lower end of this shaft 57 is adapted to be contacted by the nubs 55 and raised and lowered by them as the shaft 50 is moved in and out. At the upper end of this shaft 57 there is provided a beak and eye assembly, generally designated 59 which comprises an eye member 60 and a beak member 61 with the eye and beak members rigidly secured together. This eye and beak assembly 59 is pivotally secured to the inside of the bird figure by a shaft 62 extending between the two walls. One end of the beak assembly 61 projects through an opening 63 forming a visible beak section adapted to be opened and closed against the lower beak 64. At the other end of this beak assembly 61 there is a pivotable connection 65 to the shaft 57.

In order to maintain the shaft 57 in contact with the nubs 55 a leaf spring 67 is secured within the body of the owl member by means of cross pins 68 positioned on either side of the leaf spring. The free end of this leaf spring contacts a projecting element 69 formed at the side of the shaft 57. This leaf spring maintains a continual tension on the projection 69, thus causing the shaft to be normally tensioned in a downward position.

In the operation of this device, when air is blown through the mouth tube and the shaft 50 is moved lngitudinally to vary the resonant cavity 66, the openings 54 will be successively aligned with the opening and edge 8, thus causing successive sounds of varying tones to emanate from the whistle. Simultaneously, the nubs 55 will contact the shaft 57, raising and lowering it. This motion'will, in turn, be translated to the beak and eye assembly and will cause an opening and closing of the beak and the movement of the eye which may be visible toan observer through an opening in the wall of the bird figure. By varying the length of the nubs 55 and the longitudinal size of-the openings 54, selected time sequences may be obtained in successive notes. Thus, if a screech owl is imitated, one long blast followed by a series of short trills may readily be obtained. In Figure- 3 the nubs are so arranged as to illustrate one long blast and a series of short trills following.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. A toy whistle comprising an elongated tube having a constricted air passage, an air deflecting edge aligned therewith, a piston and shaft having an enlarged member formed on said shaft, said shaft positioned within said tube for varying the resonant length of said tube, an elongated band having holes formed therein, means securing said band to said piston for longitudinal movement with said piston whereby said holes may be successively alignedwith said piston whereby said holes may be successively aligned with said passage and edge, a lever linkage system adapted to'be operatively engaged at one end by said enlarged member and animatable means operable by said system.

2. A whistle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said enlarged member is positioned to engage said linkage system when said holes are aligned with said passage and edge whereby theanimation may take place as the whistle is sounded.

3. A toy whistle having a bird figure formed thereon comprising an elongated tube having a constricted air passage and an air deflecting edge aligned therewith, with a shaft having projecting members formed thereon and a piston connected to said shaft, said shaft and piston positioned within said tube for varying the resonant length of said tube, an elongated band having holes formed therein secured to and adapted to move longitudinally with said piston whereby said holes may be successively aligned with said passage and edge, an animatable beak and eye assembly for said bird, a linking lever arm engaging said' assembly at one end and the projecting members at the other for providing animation to said. assembly, and means adapted to normally retain said lever arm in a selected position.

4. A whistle as set forth in claimv 1, wherein said enlarged member'comprises a nub.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

